Wednesday, January 1, 2014 (DAYS 667 - 672) Here’s to hoping for a great new year to everyone! I hope that 2014 has already started on the right foot for most of you. This year I had the pleasure of enjoying it halfway around the world from last year–San Juan del Sur, Nicarauga–with an amazing new group of friends in Thailand. As I’ve tried to keep up with all the various forms of social media and communication with friends across the world, I happen to notice on my Facebook newsfeed a post from my friend Nancy Lor from back in Colorado as she liked a fitting post that read: “God says, ‘the reason some people have turned against you and walked away from you without reason, has nothing to do with you. It is because I have removed them from your life because they cannot go where I am taking you next. They will only hinder you in your next level because they have already served their purpose in your life. Let them go and keep moving. Greater is coming, says the Lord.” – Author Unknown. Often meeting the five-minute friend traveling to those that I’ve been fortunate enough to have been reunited with in different countries or on entirely different continents, I find this to be very true as people come into my life at various times. I was hoping to make this blog sort of a photo blog looking back on the past year, but due to the lack of consistent Wi-Fi on the island of Koh Tao uploading photos as well as battling food poisoning sickness, my apologies.

MY RTW PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: 2014 began for me on the island of Koh Pha-Ngan before returning to Koh Tao, and after catching up on a bit of rest, my friend Natalie and I treated ourselves to New Year’s Day massages for 300THB ($9.09) for one-hour, which was an excellent decision by her, I have to say. The next day we met up with her friend Julian from Spain where we headed out to explore one of the most unique islands in the world, Koh Nang Yuan, which is about 1km north of Sairee Beach. After negotiating with one of the local water taxis for the price of 250THB ($7.55) for the 10-minute long tail boat ride out to the three connecting islands that are connected by an incredible sandbar and paying the 100THB ($3.02) non-negotiable entry-fee–I believe this is because it is considered a National Park–we enjoyed the day strolling the heavily crowded white sandy beaches before reclusively seeking out a shaded table at one of the restaurants from the hot sun. At this time, an impromptu conversation of global politics and economics broke out, especially being curious about what you hear in the news regarding the high unemployment numbers, especially for younger people, in Spain and throughout areas of the European Union, and found it to be a very interesting conversation that was spawned. Before leaving the island at 4:30pm, we ventured up the narrow concrete steps to the primary viewpoint on the south island and took in the bird’s eye view that is world famous.

About the Author

My name is Troy and I gave up a promising 12-year career to travel the world! Now after more than 4-years of continuous global travel, I've lived an incredible life and my goal is to inspire others to achieve their dreams!